The Taxi Scam

-Never underestimate your problem or your ability to deal with it. ~
Robert H. Schuller

Song Tao (Public Transportation via covered truck)

After a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend in Bangkok with my Fulbright family, I had a plane to catch at 7am Sunday morning to my village, Lampang. I wake up 15 minutes later than I had expected, rush to get ready, and have the hotel attendant call me a cab. By 5:20 I was in a cab on my way to the airport, and then my morning went downhill. I asked the driver to turn on the meter because Taxi drivers are notorious for charging foreigners outrageous fees. His response was “No! 500 Baht round trip.” I asked again for the meter, and he refused. The smart decision would have been to get out right then, but we were already driving down a city road. I thought to myself- I am running 15 minutes late, and 500 baht is only about 100-200 baht more than what some of my friends had paid to get to the airport. “If he can get me there on time for 500 baht then I would be happy” I thought to myself. The lack of cabs in the morning and just not wanting to deal with the frustration furthered my decision to finally say “ok but reo reo” quickly “Jet Mohng Chao fly” flight at 7:00 am.

With no morning traffic this should have been a 40 minute drive, and I thought I would be there by 6:00 or 6:10. About 30 minutes into the drive we still had not gotten onto the highway or crossed the bridge I knew was the way to get to the highway. Finally at about 5:50 I ask “where/ what in Thai” because I knew we were still far away. His response was “no gas, I take you friend. Same price.”

It was then I started doubting that I would ever make it to the airport. We pulled over and he started to talk to another taxi driver- clearly trying to pawn me off. We stopped three times before we finally pulled into a gas station and a taxi driver agreed to take me to the airport. I had no idea what to do. If I got out I was lost in the city with my luggage in the car. I was already way behind schedule, and there was the language barrier. I get into the other taxi and say quickly again and try in my limited Thai to explain my flight was at 7:00, and we must go fast.

I thought I was finally in the clear and was actually going to go to the airport, but of course that is not the way the morning continued. The taxi slowly pulled over and asked for the money to pay the toll fee. I reluctantly gave it just thinking maybe he would take me to the airport. He then gets out of the taxi and starts walking down the street. I ask “arei Arei” what what? “Kun tee ni” you where, and he points to a skinny little man walking down the street with a lunch box and says “new driver”.

By this time my frustration and helplessness had reached a boiling point, and I just start to cry. I was so bewildered and frazzled that my emotions got the best of me. The crazy thing about living in another country is I feel like sometimes I can’t take care of myself because I have idea where I was or what people are saying. I pick up my phone to call the director of the program hoping at least she can threaten the taxi driver or communicate in Thai, but thankfully I saw the highway and knew we were actually going to the airport. The poor little driver turned his mirror to look at this crazy, shaken foreigner, and he really did try to go as fast as he could.

I finally arrive at counter of the airport almost 2 hours later – 15 minutes before my flight is supposed to take off. The gates had closed and my tickets were not transferable. Again I feel tears starting to swell in my eyes because there is only one flight to my village every day, and I just couldn’t stay in Bangkok another day.

I thought to myself there is no time or use for self pity. It is not going to get me home, and it was only going to delay the process of finding another solution. After talking to the “Fulbright mom”, I decided I would go to Chang Mai, a city about 60 Kilos from my home. Getting on the flight I had no idea how I was going to make it those final 60 kilos home, but I just thought to myself I was going to learn the public transportation system real fast.

Surprisingly finding a bus station was not very difficult. I found a taxi counter in Chang Mai which first tried to offer me an outrageous 1,500 taxi fee to take me home, but the moment I started talking Thai and saying this was so expensive they were shocked. I had an extremely nice taxi driver with some limited English due to the vast amount of foreigners who visit Chang Mai, but I was also very proud of explaining in Thai why I wanted to go to Lampang.

I arrive at the bus stop and find that the bus to Lampang was pulling out of the station in one minute. The man at the service counter just said “ Now go go,” and pointed to a public bus. I first asked the price and when to pay trying to avoid any further scandals.

The bus was slightly dingy and reminded me of the crowded bus from the opening scene of Romancing the Stone ( I think that is the title), but I was so close to getting home that I didn’t even think twice about comfort. I start to look through my bag to call my host teacher and ask her for a ride from the bus station, but no cell phone is to be found. By this time there was no obstacles that could surprise me, and I just thought to myself “ what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.”

The bus ride was surprisingly normal besides the one stop in which the police officer walked through the entire bus asking for identification. He escorted some young lady off the bus who had a pink slip of paper as her ID. I have no idea what become of her, but can only hope it was nothing serious.

With no cell phone, I arrived at the Supermarket about 10 Kilos from my home and catch a Sorng Tao, a truck with a covered bed and two benches, to the front of my village. I had never taken this mode of transportation, but now seemed like a great time to learn. I walked the final 3 Kilos down a dirt road with my bright red luggage behind me- clearly this was a surprising scene for the villagers, but I was just so happy to be back in the community that at least recognized who I was and would not try to swindle me even further.

My nerves were completely shocked, but I decided to reward my self sufficiency with a large bowl of rice noodles, fried bananas, and double stuffed Oreos my aunt had sent me. The experience was truly trying, but I learned that I could overcome many obstacles on my own in a foreign country in which I barely speak the language. I have been struggling with the lack of self sufficiency since I had arrived, but today under fire I was able to achieve.

I learned that my teachers and the Fulbright family were extremely supportive and worried about my crazy, bad fortune. At about 6 PM I wake up from a nap with one of English teachers yelling my name outside my window. She gives me the biggest hug and says in broken English “My daughter. This good experience for you. This you learn and remember.” Then she reaches into her pocket and pulls out my phone. For the first time today I was completely shocked in a good way. Apparently she was in Chang Mai for the day and had stopped by the airport on her way home to look for my phone. It is not currently working for some reason, but the time and care she had shown me reminded me that there will be an upswing.